This spring, Moseley has a smile. Football is fun again. And at least for the moment, he's one of two quarterbacks competing for a starting job.

"It's not like the feeling I've had here before," Moseley said. "My confidence is at an all-new level. I'm feeling that feeling that got me here -- that confidence. It feels great. I actually love practicing now."

Moseley was named Mr. Football in Alabama after leading Leroy to three consecutive state championships. He redshirted at Auburn 2009, was behind Cam Newton and Barrett Trotter in 2010, and is now sharing reps with Trotter in a bid to win the job.

Because he spent most of last year as the No. 2 quarterback, Trotter is the front-runner to win the job. But with only two scholarship quarterbacks on the field this spring (and only one more arriving this summer), offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn is giving ample opportunities to everyone.

"I think that Clint's progressed," said Tigers coach Gene Chizik. "He's got a lot of room obviously left to grow, but he's very talented. He's smart. He's been in the system long enough now where he gets it, he knows what we need him to do. Our quarterback situation is going to be a great competition."

Malzahn adjusted his offense to match the otherworldly talents of Newton in 2010, but it's likely to veer back to a more familiar version this season.

Neither Trotter nor Moseley are runners, per se, and Malzahn must find a Wildcat quarterback.

Asked if he could run, Moseley joked: "I can run on and off the field."

So what does Moseley bring to the table? He's big and strong-armed, with a 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame that makes him look like an NFL quarterback. Coaches also praise his intelligence and his attention to detail.

"I can manage the offense," Moseley said. "Cam was such a different quarterback -- literally like we've never seen before. I'm more conventional, what Gus always has had."

As for his emotional growth, Moseley points to the Friday night before the Clemson game last season when Rick Burgess, a popular radio host and father of Auburn player Blake Burgess, talked to the team. Rick's son and Blake's little brother, Bronner Burgess, drowned in 2008 at the age of 2. Rick Burgess has spoken to groups about the spiritual journey his family went through after losing Bronner.

"I wasn't where I needed to be and I had a lot of great people talking to me. I started listening to them last year," Moseley said. "My attitude changed little by little. It just hit me one time how pitiful I was acting: thinking I was right when I was obviously wrong. I had a huge attitude adjustment. It was Clemson week last year -- that's when it really hit me. Ever since then, I'm for sure this is the place I'm supposed to be.

"Truthfully, it was Rick Burgess who came and spoke to us as a team Friday in Montgomery at the hotel. It was weird. I started really thinking about how I had been acting. It was time to grow up if I ever wanted to play here."

Moseley said he never considered quitting or transferring, but felt he was at risk of squandering his opportunities unless he shaped up.

"The only question was if I was ever going to fully dedicate myself," he said. "I never complained, but I felt sorry for myself. I asked, 'Am I ever going to really grow up?' I finally got an answer to that question."